Story by Abdullah Afedzi, Additional Nazim Isha’at, Central West Region

Justice Saeed Kweku Gyan, an Appeals Court judge, has noted that social and economic development of the country was being impeded by narrow and partisan political interest.

Speaking at the 85th Annual National Convention of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Ghana over the weekend, Justice Gyan said it was time to effectively halt and put the dangerous and parochial partisan interest to shame.

The convention, which was on the theme “Engendering Patriotism, the Role of Religion” brought together thousands of Ahmadi Muslims, Members of Parliament (MPs), and also saw the presence of Traditional and Christian leaders as guest speakers who delivered fraternal messages.

Justice Gyan observed that crime seemed to be wearing “political batakari” and shamelessly walked on the streets with gleeful impunity while there were no definite political will to combat the menace.

He also said that partisan political corruption had become widespread and represents a negative development in the national psyche which manifestly threatened the peace, unity, stability and sustenance of our motherland.

He noted that the conduct and character of political and educated elite had emerged as an undesirable cynicism among the citizenry about their own nation and institutions of State.

To this end, he urged religious organisations to be proactive and embark on a concerted and systematic moral crusade throughout the country to save the nation from potential ruin.

Justice Gyan said “religious leaders must have the courage and integrity to speak truth to those in power but must themselves be worthy messengers of the hard truth they carry”.

He said the various religious authorities must be concerned about how some of their members suddenly gain inexplicable wealth and poke them into the eyes of the churches and mosques.